Juniper + Symantec: Two bumbling giants reacting to marketing hype

I am sitting on the Juniper-Symantec conference call listening to the two CEO's fling jargon and overused-hype. They talk about their "best-in-class" solutions while criticizing so called "point solutions".

I am sitting on the Juniper-Symantec conference call listening to the two CEO's fling jargon and overused-hype. They talk about their "best-in-class" solutions while criticizing so called "point solutions". Somehow, Symantec's "content" plus Juniper's appliances is going to create the ultimate Unified Threat Management (UTM) solution.

Both these companies have failed to execute on the opportunities that faced them: Symantec to solve the desktop security issue, Juniper to use their Netscreen acquisition to conquer the enterprise space. Symantec's five year foray into appliances and UTM devices is already a failure, to the point where they are discontinuing them.

There are so many reasons this announced "partnership" will not work. The primary reason is that host plus network security is a horrible business model. Different sales channels, different buyers.

Prediction: This "beautiful relationship" will fail. This time next year you won't be able to find a combined offering from these two giants as they move in opposite directions. Yes, Symantec will license their anti-spam and AV products to Juniper but the hoped for synergies will not materialize.

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